McLouth selected as NL All-Star reserve

By Paul Meyer
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com
Monday, July 07, 2008

Morry Gash/Associated Press
The Pirates' Nate McLouth hits a double in the second inning yesterday to drive in three runs.

MILWAUKEE -- Nate McLouth learned yesterday he'll have to change his plans for the All-Star break just a bit.

"I was going to hang out in Pittsburgh," he said. "Now I'll hang out in New York."

The Pirates' center fielder received that "hang out in New York" opportunity when National League players voted him onto the All-Star team as a reserve.

"That's special because it's your peers," McLouth said.

Also special is the fact that this year's game scheduled for July 15 will be the last All-Star Game played in venerable Yankee Stadium, which closes after this season.

"That's kind of a magical place in terms of baseball," McLouth said. "I expect it's going to be a great event. Obviously I'm grateful. It's kind of humbling to be mentioned with some of the other names. I'm honored to be chosen."

Being an All-Star was the furthest thing from McLouth's mind when the season began.

"Coming out of spring training, I was just grateful to get the center field job and have the chance to play every day," he said.

McLouth, 26, made the most of that chance.

He hit .342 in the first month of the season -- with 6 home runs, 21 runs batted in and 22 runs scored.

He has cooled a bit since then. His average stands at .280 after yesterday's two-hit performance in the Pirates' 11-6 loss to Milwaukee.

Still, he entered yesterday's game fourth among major league center fielders with a .513 slugging percentage. He also ranked third in the majors with 53 RBIs while playing center field behind Texas' Josh Hamilton (57) and the New York Mets' Carlos Beltran (53).

And he leads the National League with 29 doubles -- hitting his 29th yesterday with the bases loaded in the second inning.

He has 15 home runs, a team-high 56 RBIs and 60 runs scored, which ties him with Jason Bay for the team lead.

"It's well deserved," manager John Russell said. "He's having a great year. It shows the players have respect for what he's doing."

McLouth said he'll try to get himself some kind of souvenir from Yankee Stadium.

"It's a special place," he said. "These will be memories that will last a lifetime."

Paul Meyer can be reached at 412-263-1144.
First published on July 7, 2008 at 12:00 am